Process of obtaining pure phosphorus sesquisulfid.



ALFRED STOCK, 0F BRESLAU, GERMANY,

PATENT omuon.

ASSIGNOR TO CHEMISCHE FABRIK GRIES- HEIM ELEKTRON, OF FRANKFORT-ON-THE-MAIN, GERMANY, A CORPORATION OF GERMANY.

rnocris's or OBTAINING runs rnosrnonus snsoursunrm.

No Drawing.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 10, 1910. Serial No. 586,387.

Patented Feb. 25,1913.

To all whom it may concern:

.Be it known that I, ALFRED STOCK, a subject of the German Emperor, and resident of-Breslau, Germany, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Processes of Obtaining Pure Phosphorus sesquisulfid, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the roduction of pure phosphorus sesquisulfid S and itcomprises a process of purification where- 'in the crude and impure sulfid obtained by melting phosphorus and sulfur together is purified from other sulfids,- and more particularly from the higher sulfids, by treatment with water particularly with hot water or water in the form of steam.

' The phosphorus sesquisulfid (P S ),which is valuable for use in the manufacture of matches is obtained by melting together phosphorus and sulfur. 'Other sulfids, however, are also formed, and are present as impurities, articularly the higher sulfids P 8 and P g According to the processes heretofore practised the sesquisulfid has been obtained in a still impure condition and with a correspondingly low melting point.

I have discovered that pure phosphorus sesquisulfid (P S can be obtained by treating the raw or crude product with water particularly in a heated condition or in the form of steam. The sesquisulfid I have found to be very stable in water, even at the boiling point, while other higher sulfids present as impurities (P S and P S are decomposed and can be thus removed.

. These sulfids are always formed when phosphorus and sulfur are heated together in proportions to give P S (Stock Ber. 42 (1909) 2062; 43 (1910) 150,, 414, 1226). Accordingly I have found that the sesquisulfid can be easily separated from the impurities and obtained in astate-of remarkable purity as is indicated by its melting point, 171*172 C. The decomposition of the two higher sulfids takes place according to the equations:

The treatment with water is effected in a very short time if hot water or steam is used, and a pure product thus readily ob tainable. It differs from the impure products hitherto known in that it is much more stable, being but little decomposed by pure water, or by exposure to the air.

I claim:

1. The process of roducing. pure phoshorus sesquisulfid w ich comprises treating the crude impure sulfid, and decomp os ing the higher sulfids present as impurities, with water.

2. The process of producing purephosphorus sesquisulfid which comprises treating the crude impure sulfid, and decomposing the higher sulfids present as impurities with hot water.

3. The process of producing pure phosphorus sesquisulfid which comprises treating the crude impure sulfid, and decomposing thehigher sulfids present as impuritles with water in the form of steam.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. V

' ALFRED STOCK.

Witnesses FnANs Frsonnn, CLARA BENDIG. 

